PREVIEW: Another Test for Carmelo Anthony and Knicks: New York at Orlando (Tonight, 7:10 PM; TV: MSG; NBA TV)

The Knicks tangle with an Orlando Magic team that has hot recently Photo: Reuters

Things aren't getting any easier for Carmelo Anthony since he's joined the Knicks.

The star forward and his new teammates complete their Florida swing with a big game tonight against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center, after an important victory on Sunday against LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

The Magic currently have the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference, and are in second place in the in the Southeast Division, trailing the Heat.

Orlando has won four of their last five games mainly due to a scoring surge from star center Dwight Howard.

The five-time All-Star is averaging 23.2 points per game, but is averaging 30.8 points per game in the Magic's last five games, which included a blowout victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

A match-up of Howard and Knicks' All-Star big man Amare Stoudemire will be the one to watch.

Stoudemire had 30 points when the two teams faced off in late December at Madison Square Garden. But Howard held his own as well in the Magic's victory, with a 24-point, 18-rebound performance.

Like New York, Orlando is a bit of a new-look team.

The Magic re-acquired Hedo Turkulgo earlier in the season, as well as guards Jason Richardson and Gilbert Arenas.

Arenas has had trouble regaining his scoring touch in Orlando and since his suspension last season with the Washington Wizards. However, the 29-year-old guard is coming off one of his best performances with the team - a 16-point effort in 16 minutes against the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday.

The Knicks are likely still on a high after rebounding from their disappointing loss at Cleveland with a victory over the star-studded Miami Heat.

Anthony has been as productive as expected since his arrival from Denver. The former-Syracuse star scored 29 points, and added 9 rebounds against the Heat, in a road victory that was a bit of a statement game.

Perhaps lost in the fanfare of Anthony's New York homecoming, are the contributions of Chauncey Billups. The veteran point guard has averaged 21 points per game for New York in his first three games -- a solid increase over his 16.7 point-per-game average on the season.